Do-not-call list not likely a job killer.

Byline: Edward Russo The Register-Guard

Consumers nationwide are signing up by the millions to get off telemarketers' phone lists, but the Eugene-Springfield area's burgeoning call-center industry doesn't appear to be much at risk from the trend.

Not many jobs in the local call-center industry - which employs more than 1,000 people - appear to be in jeopardy. That's because most of the local call centers handle incoming calls from customers seeking technical support for software, help with monthly bills and similar services. Few local call-center companies are involved in making cold calls pitching products or services to prospects.

Harry & David, for instance, operates a large call center in Eugene each winter that takes orders for gifts. Symantec's call center in Springfield handles calls and e-mails from customers with questions about Symantec's software.

The Federal Trade Commission expects as many as 60 million Americans will sign up for the national do-not-call list in the first year.

At one local call center - Northwest Direct Teleservices in Eugene - about 75 percent of the business involves making outbound telemarketing calls on behalf of large corporations.

Bret Mullins, facility manager of the 100-employee call center, said it's unclear if the national do-not-call list will cause the company to lose business and to cut jobs in Eugene. "I'm hoping that it doesn't hinder us much," Mullins said, adding that his firm is trying to increase its volume of inbound calls - calls from consumers seeking information.

The national list, organized by the Federal Trade Commission, has exceptions to the do-not-call rule, loopholes that Lake Oswego-based NorthWest Direct and other telemarketers are counting to help soften the hit. One exception allows telemarketing calls to existing customers. In these cases, telemarketing firms working on behalf of banks, for example, can continue contacting the bank's credit card holders to offer them products and services.

Irvine, Calif.-based Hospitality Marketing Concepts employs 30 people in Eugene. They call business people and offer them hotel club memberships and dining and lodging discounts for 700 luxury hotels.

Hospitality Marketing doesn't call people at their homes, so it won't be affected by the FTC rule, said Hospitality Vice President Valentina Tang. If telemarketers could not call businesses, "I don't know how America would work anymore," she said.

Also, the no-call list doesn't ban surveys and polling, which is welcome news at Research Data Design. The Portland-based firm has a 100-seat call center in the Gateway area that calls residents across the country on behalf of market research firms and the media.

Residents often must be told by Research Data Design employees that polling is allowed under no-call lists that were set up by individual states before the FTC rules, said Arturo Coto, vice president of sales and marketing.

People who already are on no-call lists have been asking, ` `Why are you calling me?' ' Coto said. "We tell employees how to differentiate and explain the differences between the two - surveys and telemarketing."